The Middletown Town Council is asking for penalties and fees up to $500 for tenants and landlords of short-term rental properties, which could lead to the hiring of a full-time zoning officer whose sole duty will be enforcing the regulations.
It was estimated that hiring a full-time enforcement officer would cost approximately $80,000 in salary and benefits.
“Short-term rental landlords are receiving income at the inconvenience and expense of our town residents,” wrote Town Council President Robert Sylvia and Vice President Paul Rodrigues in a memo released at the Feb. 16 meeting. “Many of them do not reside in the dwellings, and some do not reside in the town.”
The memo added that “they create havoc in our neighborhoods.”
The council’s plan would raise owner registration fees from $55 to $500 per bedroom. Additional fines would include $500 to the owner and $500 to a tenant who violates town ordinances for noise, trash, parking, overcrowding and other code complaints. Two violations in a year would revoke an owner’s short-term rental permit. A draft of the proposals will be read at a public hearing before the end of March.
“We need to enhance permit and licensing fees for the owners of residential property being rented at intervals of six months or less,” concluded the council leaders.
To that end, councilor Terri Flynn drafted a memo for all historic data regarding short-term rentals for public airing, including police reports regarding trash, noise and parking; court cases; and police, fire and other public servant overtime caused by problems.
“We need to compile some good data to accurately target the problem areas,” councilor Tom Welch said.
Sylvia and Rodrigues also proposed creating a data base through the town administrator, and directing him to prepare a short-term rental handbook to be distributed to owners, tenants and neighbors.
At the council meeting, David Rushlow, a resident, worried that a commercial tax rate would apply, but Sylvia said, “That is not on the table.”
Another resident, James Redfearn, complained about persistent noise from a neighboring short-term rental. “I realized we will have no peace and we bought a lemon for a house,” he said.
He maintained that his neighbors were “clearly operating a hotel in a residential area,” with as many as 30 guests at a time. He said repeated calls to police and zoning offered little relief.
“We need to fix this or figure out where the gap is. We need to come together on this and figure it out pretty quick,” said Rodrigues.
Police Chief Bill Kewer, while admitting that “enforcement needs to be picked up,” added, “Ninety nine percent of our short-term rentals do play by the rules … It’s the repeat offenders.”
He called for “more teeth” to enforce the noise ordinance.
“It’s something we have to address and I believe enforcement is a key issue in this,” said Sylvia.
“[That] sends a message to the landlords [that they] have to start paying attention to these people [they are] renting to,” said Sylvia. “I think $500 is nothing for a room. Nothing. Two or more violations in a 12-month period, your rental life is over.”
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February 18, 2021 at 11:51PM
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Middletown Proposes Short- Term Rental Fines of $500 - Newport This Week
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